Front Cover -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements: International Society for Rock Mechanics -- About the authors -- 1. Introduction and background -- 2. Uncertainty and risk -- 3. Rock Engineering Systems (RES), auditing and Protocol Sheets -- 4. Rock fractures and in situ rock stress -- 5. Radioactive waste disposal: overcoming complexity and reducing risk -- 6. Risks associated with long deep tunnels -- 7. Risks associated with hydropower cavern groups -- 8. Concluding remarks -- Appendix A: Cavern risk events during construction -- Appendix B: The Chinese 'Basic Quality' (BQ) system for rock mass classification -- References and bibliography -- Colour plates.
This book provides a new, valuable approach to the consideration of risk in underground engineering projects constructed within rock masses. There are Chapters on uncertainty and risk, rock engineering systems, rock fractures and rock stress, the design of a repository for radioactive waste, plus two major case examples relating to the headrace tunnels and caverns for a hydroelectric project. The book is particularly timely given the current increasing emphasis on geo-engineering safety, accountability and sustainability. The book will benefit all who are concerned with rock engineering projects in civil, mining, geological and construction engineering worldwide.